This article discusses comparisons of means using exploratory and confirmatory approaches. Three methods are discussed: hypothesis testing, model selection based on information criteria, and Bayesian model selection. Throughout the article, an example is used to illustrate and evaluate the two approaches and the three methods. We demonstrate that…

This study illustrated the use of the Rule Space Method to diagnose students' proficiencies in, skills and knowledge of statistical hypothesis testing. Participants included 96 undergraduate and, graduate students, of whom 94 were classified into one or more of the knowledge states identified by, the rule space analysis. Analysis at the level of…

This study compares the relative power and robustness of the chi-square and Kolmogorov statistics with both the linear score scale and equal areas models. It is limited to the situation in which the mean and standard deviation are fixed by the hypothesis (a necessary constraint with the Kolmogorov tests). Two tables are presented which report the…

Many important research hypotheses concern conditional relations in which the effect of one predictor varies with the value of another. Such relations are commonly evaluated as multiplicative interactions and can be tested in both fixed-and random-effects regression. Often, these interactive effects must be further probed to fully explicate the…

For comparing nested covariance structure models, the standard procedure is the likelihood ratio test of the difference in fit, where the null hypothesis is that the models fit identically in the population. A procedure for determining statistical power of this test is presented where effect size is based on a specified difference in overall fit…

A general Computer program is described that will compute asymptotic standard errors and carry out significance tests for an endless variety of (standard and) nonstandard large-sample statistical problems, without requiring the statistician to derive asymptotic standard error formulas. The program assumes that the observations have a multinormal…

Because of criticisms leveled at statistical hypothesis testing, some researchers have argued that measures of effect size should replace the significance-testing practice. We contend that although effect-size measures have logical appeal, they are also associated with a number of limitations that may result in problematic interpretations of them…

Too few researchers understand what statistical significance testing does and does not do, and consequently their results are misinterpreted. This Digest explains the concept of statistical significance testing and discusses the meaning of probabilities, the concept of statistical significance, arguments against significance testing,…

Investigates library study skills of 467 randomly selected students in grades 5, 8, and 11 using scores from Gullette-Hatfield Test of Library Study Skills to represent gender, grade level, socio-economic status of family. Review of literature, hypotheses, methodology (subjects, instruments, procedures, design), and results are noted. Eight…

Describes the prospects for a linkage between two approaches to language teaching: language-through-content and multimedia. Three hypotheses were tested. The most important finding of the experiment was that the multimedia computer instruction produced higher scores on a test of content material than traditional instruction. (nine references) (CK)